Article: Cat exposure ups infant eczema risk.(Skin Disorders)(Brief article)

San Diego -- Newborns who come home to a family cat may be at greater risk of developing eczema by their first birthday, according to an ongoing, prospective birth cohort study presented at the International Conference of the American Thoracic Society.

Dr. Esmeralda Morales reported 28% of 134 infants with household cats developed eczema by 1 year of age. The skin condition appeared in only 18% of 286 infants raised without cats. The difference was statistically significant with an odds ratio of 1.75 that early exposure to cats would lead to eczema. The effect was stronger for babies whose mothers did not have asthma.

Dr. Morales, of the University of ...

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